Seagate is aiming to launch a 100-terabyte hard drive by 2030, nearly tripling the capacity of its current flagship model, the 36-terabyte Exos M. The move is driven by growing demand from data centers, fueled in large part by the artificial intelligence boom. As AI models become increasingly complex, they require vast amounts of data for training, placing immense pressure on storage infrastructure. According to Seagate’s chief commercial officer, the need for such high-capacity drives is not theoretical—there is already strong demand from data center operators looking to scale up efficiently.
This anticipated leap in storage technology comes as the company positions itself as a vital player in the AI ecosystem. AI training and deployment depend on access to immense datasets, and hardware players like Seagate are working to ensure infrastructure keeps pace. While much of the AI hardware spotlight has focused on graphics processing units from companies like Nvidia, the back-end storage capacity needed to feed and support those systems is equally critical.
At the same time, the explosive growth of data centers has raised environmental concerns. AI-related workloads require large amounts of power. A single AI query, for example, consumes far more energy than a typical internet search. If generative AI tools were used at the scale of today’s internet searches, the global electricity demand could spike significantly.
To counter these concerns, Seagate is investing in more energy-efficient technology and sustainable manufacturing. The company is increasing storage density, which reduces the number of drives needed to achieve a given capacity. Fewer drives mean less space and less energy required to cool and run data centers. In addition, Seagate is transitioning its factories to operate entirely on renewable energy.
Beyond energy efficiency, Seagate argues that hard disk drives have a sustainability edge over competing technologies like solid-state drives, which use flash memory. While SSDs are faster, they often carry a higher embodied carbon footprint. Seagate maintains that HDDs offer a more sustainable solution for mass data storage needs, particularly as environmental scrutiny of tech infrastructure intensifies.
With data needs continuing to surge and AI adoption accelerating, Seagate’s goal of a 100-terabyte hard drive signals a strategic push to remain relevant and responsible in a data-driven future.
READ MORE: